Life Technologies’ Latest Acquisitions

In 2009, GENEART AG sales increased 9.6% to €17.2 million ($23.9 million = €0.72 = $1) and EBIT declined 59.8% to €0.33 million ($0.46 million) (see page 12). Founded in 2005, Stokes Bio signed a licensing and R&D collaboration agreement earlier this year with Monsanto, which gained exclusive rights to the company’s technology for use in agriculture. Its microfluidics genetic analysis technology utilizes smaller sample sizes for higher throughput and lower costs.

Regensburg, Germany 4/9/10; Regensburg, Germany 4/16/10; Carlsbad, CA 4/27/10; Limerick, Ireland 4/29/10—Applied Biosystems Deutschland GmbH, a Life Technologies company, has acquired 58% of the shares of GENEART AG, a provider of synthetic genes and synthetic gene services. The shares were purchased from three founding shareholders and Board members at a price of €11.59 ($15.73 = €0.74 = $1) per share. Life Technologies plans to launch a voluntary public tender offer for the remaining shares for a cash consideration of €13.75 ($18.66) per share, a 47% premium over the March 9 share price. GENEART is listed on Germany’s Frankfurt Stock Exchange. According to GENEART’s statement regarding the offer, Life Technologies will initially keep GENEART as a separate company located in Regensburg. Life Technologies has not issued any statement about the acquisition. On its quarterly conference call, Life Technologies announced the acquisition of Stokes Bio, a microfluidics technology company. “Stokes Bio has developed a microfluidics-based system for high-throughput, highly flexible genotyping, gene expression analysis and digital PCR,” stated Gregory T. Lucier, chairman and CEO of Life Technologies. The University of Limerick, which was one of the company’s major shareholders, reported that the company was acquired for $44 million and that it has 31 employees.

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